The Washington critic., 1887-08-25
KATE WYLDE.

an lDueN OF character surely tnc former
Is. Who ever saw a sober Kate Who
ever knew one that was not the most
tantalizing piece of humanity that ever
brought the masculine world to her
feet, or filed the hearts of feminine
rivals with envy? She is intensely In.
dividual, careless of remark, aud there.
fore no favoritc with Mrs. Grundy,
whose nice little prophecies she is apt
to disregard. She is full of vvacity,
as "A general thing honest, independent,
ai1ecllonate aud courageous.
The suburban village of N had
Its Kate Wylde--its chief attraction
both as respected beauty and fortune.
She was indescribable in detail, so
much so that we can scarcely tell you
whether she was tall or short. At
times she appeared of regal stature. mt
others her whimsical actions gave her
the air of a petted child. think her
eyes were black, but their varied eN.
preston might have caused even
lover TO mistake their hue. Dimples
were forever playing hide and seek
around her mouth, which opened often
and disclosed CLEAN of pearls. In
S'''g E"Scg Nhil lhtlN was u w
perversiiy, a trick of bObbing out Of
place at every turn of her small heal.
The nose was her most characteristic
feature, having an upward tendency
that gave piquancy to her countenanCe.
She was genuine Yankee girl, aud
had none of that adylikc help
lessncss which is considered 50
becoming by some people. Strange
to say she had attained TO the age
of twenty, yet was uneDgaged-nOt for
lack of suitOrs, but because she was
fastidiOus and romantic Ii must be
confessed she had quite liking for Il
certain artist who had fortune and fame
TO win, and who was, consequently, not
much of favOrite with her sensible
father. The latter gentleman was en-
crossed In his business, to the exclusion
of almost everything else. He nude it
paramount to his daughters Interests,
and only woke up 10 the fact that she
had arrived at a marriageble age upon
receiving proposals for her hand from
an unexceptionable exquisite, VINO bore
the 0ristocratic name of Durwent
Clements. Mr.. W sanctioned the
suit warmly, and would have drawn up
articles OF uniOn had he not stood
little in awe Of rebellion. In common
with most other men he entertained
Wholesome fear of female iutrhcta.
bili,y, and hence wisely resolved to re.
port TO Kate, at the same time giving
her faiherly counsel Having 50 long
been WidOwer, he had forgotten how
unreasonable a woman Can be where
her affections are conterued. Behold
him, then, turn from his ledger for
once, and address his daughter in
perluI bed way, as If afraid If raising a
COnmOtiOn.
Now, father, | didn't think you
wanted 10 send me away from you 50
soon, pleaded she ina persuasive tone,
in which VAS shade of anxiety.
Nor do ], child. Your home will,
OF course, be mine
"But don't love Derwent Glenn.
ents." Her mental rcjoinder was: II
do love Erie Chester, aud no other
Ii at is worth u fig IN comparison.
'Stuil One would think you were
fifteen instead of twenty, aud had read
dime novels all your days. What il
ycu don't love him now, you will in
time"
81 don't even like him.
why not, girlY" questioned Mr.
W.lde, in AN irritaied voice.
because don't"
your logic is not very clear. Make
itplainer."
Hes cOnceited and SELFISH
$50 are You, miss. Since you are
putting down things against him,
Will keep the credit sldroI the account
He is uniform in temper, demeanor
and habits "
Yes. That Is why | dislike him.
He was made by rule and moves by
rule. If his favori,e spaniel should
die, or | should break my neck by
accident, he would say, in exactly the
same tone aud with The same expires.
sion, TOO bad, rm sorry -
"Well, 1t would he true"
"Another dvfecl-he isn't generous.
"Re's worth u quarter of million.
"lIe isn't original"
"That is why he specially plcascs
me. ! don't admire the comet species
of individuals that you never know
where to lind. Give me the man thut
follows the old beaten track of his
fathers"
Ka'e saw she wasn't gaining any
ground, and so she said
II don't want to marry" Her con
science gave an uneasy twiupe rs she
thought Of Erie. II wish TO live an
OH lEulu, NbUtl sue.
"Tut! tut you shall dono such thing
My wishes ought TO weigh something
with you, and you certainly owe me
obedience. HIOu may consider this
matter u while, and II your final dc
cisiOn shall bu cOnsOn0nt with my de
sires you will give me great plctsure;
otherwise you incur my anger.
She was alone nov aud unhappy. 1t
gave her pain 10 disobey her father,
YET her brave soul never for an instant
haIhoIed the idea Of proving false to
her instincts Of truth and Justice,
Kate was O strnlegist IN emergencies,
and She beut all her faculties to con-.
iurt up sOmc method whereby she
milht sicRrn her admrur, aud at the
same time, retain the grace Of her
father A CLEAN of mingled mischief
and triumph lighted hur features
pIcspuuy, Indicating that her ready wit
had found some project in har hour of
reed. Remembering that Clements
was second edition Of Chesterfield in
taste aud etiquette, she hit upon the
tNptdirut Of becoming trial to him
by cuacting the part OF doNdy. She
Immediately put her plan iulo opera.
ton neglected her toilet, and wOrI iu-
harm omous, Enudy Cnlur-, The first
time she met Dcrwpnt after The con.
versbiion just recorded, ht found her
with dishevelled hair, without q collar,
ard In dress of nice material, but
containing two or three great tears
which were fastened by pins more re-
markahle for size than beauty. His
sweeping glance and expression of dis
gust did not escape Kate's eye.
She IpiolCul in the hone of a